Internal-combustion-engine vacuum actuating means.



I S. F. ARBUCKLE. rNTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE VACUUM ACTUATING MEANS. APPLLCATION FILED JAN. 2K. 1.9]8.

1,296,735. Patented Mar. 11,1919

- TE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL F. ARBUCKLE, 0F INDIANAPOLIS. INDIANA.

INTEBNAL-COMBUSTION-ENGINE VACUUM ACTUATING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application filed January 28, 1918. Serial No. 214. .169

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. ABBUCKLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Internal-Combustion Engine Vacuum Actuating Means; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in-which like letters refer to like parts;

The object of this invention is the improvement of the construction and operation of vacuum actuating means associated with internal combustion engines. Such vacuum actuating means may be used for operating brakes of automobiles or moving any other part where suitable.

One feature of the invention consists in an improved construction of cylinder in com' munication with a vacuum line and the parts associated with the cylinder for utilizing the power resulting from the vacuum for actuating the desired means. The piston in said cylinder has considerable peripheral area and the periphery thereof is of yielding material so there is relatively very slight wearing action between the piston and the cylinder resulting from the jarring of the automobile or like structure with which the device is associated. This greatly, prolongs the life of the cylinder and piston. 7 Another feature of the invention consists in providing a spiral spring-in the cylinder between the piston and vacuum end of the cylinder for actuating the piston, piston rod and actuated means when the degree of vacuum is diminished. 7

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a hollow or chambered piston for containing permanent lubrication, the

der. One filling of such piston will suffice period of time. In addition for a very long of providing to theforegoing idea is that the piston rod, with alongitudinal lubricating passage communicating with the lubricating chamber in the piston, and mounting a grease cup on the piston rod outside of the cylinder,

This still further extends the period during which one supply of lubrication will suffice to lubricate the device.

Another feature of the invention consists in placing in the vacuumline a vacuum chamber for rendering more uniform the degree of vacuum in the line. If at one moment there is a relatively high degree of vacuum in the intake manifold of the engine, it will' create a relatively high degree of vacuum in the vacuum line and by having a check valve between the intake manifold and the vacuum chamber, this high degree of vacuum will be maintained in the line until the device is operated, although the degree of vacuum in the intake manifold might become less. Also a safety valve is provided for said vacuum chamber. v

A further feature of the invention is the rovision of an operating valve structure for the control of the cylinder in the vacuum bile, and said vacuum actuating means associated with the engine. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through thecylinder. and associated parts on a large scale, the parts being shown in idle or. actuated position. Fig. 3 is the same with the parts in position when under the influence of the vacuum. Fig. lis

a modified form of piston. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view as seen on' line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of cylinder and means to attach a pipe thereto. Fig. 7 is a sectional View of a modified form of operating valve. In the drawings there is shown an internal combustion engine 10 of ordinary type used in automobiles and having a carburetor 11 and intake manifold 12. A pipe 13 leads from the intake manifold to a cylinder 14 which may be located anywhere with reference to the engine so that the piston rod 15 thereof can actuate the desired means to be actuated. In the drawings the actuated means consists of a bell crank lever 16 ful- Patented. Mar. 11, 1919.

crumed at 17 and operatively connected with a rod 18. This, however, is only typical of what will be referred to herein as the actuated means. The pipe 13 and cylinder 14 may be called a vacuum line. There is in it a check valve 19.

The vacuum line is controlled by a valve 34 therein which is operated by an arm 35 and a rod 36 running therefrom to an arm 37 on a shaft 38 mounted in the dash board of an automobile having a handle 39 turning the shaft, and a dial- 40 for indicating its position. The means for operating the valve 34, however, may be any suitable means depending upon what the engine is associated with. By operating the valve 34, one is ento lie within the spring 41.

abled to control .the degree of vacuum in the cylinder 14. If the valve is entirely open, the degree of vacuum in the cylinder 14 would be exactly the same as in the portion of the pipe 13 between the two valves 19 and 34.

The cylinder 14 has a removable end .to which the pipe '13 is secured and that may be called the vacuum end of the cylinder. The piston on the piston rod 15 is forced or held against the other end of the cylinder,

when the device'is idle or the degree ofvacuum low, by a spiral spring 41 lying between the piston and the vacuum end of the cylinder. This spring must be strong enough to actuate the piston when the degree of vacuum is relatively weak and the spring must be weak enough to yield when the degree of vacuum is relatively strong.

The piston-herein is formed of a cupshaped metal member 22 which is, slipped on the reduced end of the piston and opens toward the suction end of the cylinder, and

it is of less diameter than thecylinder. The

open end of the metal member 22 of the pis ton isjclosed by a leather-disk 23, the outer portion of which is turned over the'periphcry .of the member 22 of the piston so as to form a packing between the metal part 22 of the piston and the cylinder. A wide washer 24 is then placed on the piston rod and a narrow washer 25 thereon, and the whole tightened up and held by the nut 26 and washer 25 bein' a nut 26,

he periphery of the piston is made relatively long by reason of the cup-shaped form of the member 22 so as to furnish a considerable bearing surface whereby the wear between the plston and cylinder, due to the jarring of the automobile or the like, will be reduced to a minimum and greatly prolong the life of the device. The air end of the cylinder has an opening 47 to the outer air.

With the foregoin construction of the piston there is a 1n ricating chamber 27 therein which is to be filled with grease and whenmade in the form shown in Fig. 4, this chamber is closed by a screw plug 28, the

' end of the spring. small enough piston in said form being solid. This. lubrication will permeate the leather'very slowly and maintain the piston in a suitably lubricated condition for a very long period of.

time. vTo further prolong and improve the lubrication of the piston, the piston rod is provided with a longitudinal passage 2-9 which communicates with the lubricating l chamber 27 and with a rease cup 30 on the piston outside the cylinder. By filling this grease cup with a lubricant or semi-' liquid, it will serve as a fountain of supply 1 i for the lubricating chamber 27 in thep-iston.

To promote the uniformity of'the degree of vacuum in the vacuum line, the reservoir or vacuum chamber 31 is connected with the pipe 13 between the .two valves 19 and 34. The effect of this chamber is to inmaintain a maximum degree of vacuum.

vacuum in this vacuum chamber and in the crease the capacity of the vacuum line and Until the device is operated, the degree of vacuum line is that of the highest degree, I

of vacuum which existed in the intake manifold previous thereto.- The check valve 19 protects the degree of vacuumin this cham- .fold of an internal combustion engine creates quite a considerablepower, more than would be expected by most people, so that,

this vacuum actuating apparatus is capable. of performing quite a considerable .workf1 and yet without materially affecting the'operation of the engine, because the vacuumf line 13 isextremely small, say a quarter of an inch or less. But to avoid any trouble j in the vacuum line, a. safety valve 32 is 'pro-' vided in the vacuum chamber 13 which piers mits the inlet of air fromthe outside when the degree of vacuum is so great as to overcome the action of the spring 33 which holds the valve closed. The tension of this spring is adjusted by a nut 44 on the threaded end of the valve stem 45 a. 1'1'd ;:';which screws down on the washer-"46 that bears upon the outer It is not necessary that the end of the cyllnder 14 should be removable as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the modified form thereof as shown in Fig. 6, where the cylinder is drawn and made of one piece.

Instead of using the valve 34 and parts employed for operatingthesame from the dash, that form of device shown in Fig. 7 may be used, which comprises a cylinder 50, having a piston 51 therein, moved longitudinally of means of a pull rod 52.

extends through the dash 20 and has both ends closed, the pipe 13 corresponding to the pipe 13 being connected to the forward end of the cylinder and communicating the cylinder by The cylinder 50 said piston being i with the intake manifold. he tube 13 connecting the actuated means with the cylin operate the actuated means. The piston 51' is constructed similar to the piston in the cylinder 14 and is self lubricating.

The invention claimed is: a

1. Vacuum actuating means for internal combustion engines having an intake manifold, including a cylinder with one end in communication with the-intake manifold of the engine and the other end open to the external air, a cup shaped lubricant containing piston in said cylinder, a rod connecting the piston with the actuated means, and a valve for controlling the communication lietween the intake manifold-and the cylin- 2. Vacuum actuating means for internal combustion engines having an intake manifold, including a cylinder, a pipe leadingfrom the intake manifold of the engine to one end of said cylinder, a cup shaped lubricant containing piston in said cylinder, a -fibrous substance for regulating the flow of the lubricant from the piston, a rod connect-' ing said piston with the actuated means, a.

valve for controlling said pipe, and a check valve between said controlling valve and the intake manifold. Y

3. Vacuum actuating means for internal combustion engines including a vacuum line, a controlling valve therefor, a check valve for said line located between the engine and said controlling valve, a vacuum chamber associated with said line between said two valves, and a spring controlled safety valve associated with said vacuum chamber.

4. Vacuum actuating means for internal combustion engines having an intake mani: fold, including a cylinder with one vend in communication with the intake manifold of the engine and the other end open to the external air, a relatively long cup shaped. lubricant containing piston in said cylinder to prevent Wear during vibration, a porous substance attached to the piston to regulate the discharge of the liquid from the piston, a rod connecting the piston with the actuated means, and a valve for controlling the communication between the intake manifold and the cylinder.

5. Vacuum actuating means for internal piston, a

' combustion engines having an intake manifold, including a cylinder with one end in communication with the intake manifold of the engine and the other end open to the external air, a hollow piston in said cylinder adapted to hold lubrication, a porous cover for said piston for dispensing the lubricant, and a valve for controlling the communication between the intake manifold and the cylinder.

,6. Vacuum actuating means for internal combustion engines having an intake mam fold, including a cylinder with one end 1n communication with the intake manifold of.

the engine and the other end open to the external air, a piston in said cylinder formed of a' cup-shaped metal member, a leather disk closing the open end of said cup-shaped member and surrounding the periphery thereof to form packing between the piston and cylinder whereby a lubricatingchamher is formed in said piston, a rod connecting the piston with the actuated means, and a valve for controlling the communication between the intake manifold and the cylinder.

7. Vacuum actuating means for internal combustion engines having an intake mani fold, including a cylinder with one end in communication with the intake manifold of the engine and the other end open to the external air, a piston in said cylinder formed 'of' a. cup-shaped metal member, a leather disk closing the open end of said cup-shaped member and surrounding the pleriphery thereof to form packing between t e piston and cylinder whereby a lubricating chamber is formed in said piston, a piston rod on which said metal member and leather disk are mounted, a metal washer on the inner end of-saidrod of substantially the same diameter as the metal member of the piston for holding the leather disk against said metal member, a nut on the inner end of the piston -rod forholding the washer in place, a rod connectingthe piston with the actuated means, and a valve for controlling the communication between the intake manigthe'engine and the other end open to the external air, a hollow piston in said cylinder adapted to hold lubrication, a porous sub stance connected with said piston for regulating the discharge of the liquid from the piston rod connected with said piston havlnga longitudinal chamber in it communicating with the lubricating-chamher in the piston, a grease cup secured to said piston rod outside the cylinder and communicating with the lubricating chamber in the-plston rod, a rod connecting the piston" with the actuated means, and a'valve for concontaining piston in said cylinder connected trolling the communication between the in- I wlth'the actuated means, and, a fibrous subtake manifold and the cylinder. stance carried. by the piston for controlling 10 I 9. Vacuum actuating means for internal the flew of the lubricant. 5 combustion engines including a vacuum line, In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed a cylinder withone end' in communication my signature. I v with said vacuum line, a holow lubricant Y SAMUEL F. ARBUGKLE. 

